News

Williamsport Area School District in ‘sprint’ mode to wrap up projects ahead of school starting

It's the "sprint" season at the Williamsport Area School District, according to Superintendent Timothy S. Bowers as things are put in place in preparation for the 2026-27 school year.

And nowhere is it felt more urgently than at the stadium construction site where projects have been moving along all summer with a hopeful conclusion coming by the first home football game Sept. 4.

In his report to the board at their meeting this month, Dale Crans, supervisor of maintenance and facilities, listed the work that still needs to be done at both the tennis court and stadium sites.

Some of the items still needing completion include: paint the pickleball and tennis lines, finish the fence, install handrails, get power to the sheds at the tennis courts; paint the lines in lot A; install the metal panels, the ceilings in the press box, the screen all around the stair tower; finish up the final connections in the press box for the receptacles and the lights; remove the damaged sidewalk in back of the bleachers that got ruined over the project and will be replaced at no cost to the district; finish the ticket booth at the top of the gate; hang up the display board once the metal panels are on the press box; replace two beams to support the bleachers in front of the press box; finish the rest of the equipment in the concession stand-still waiting for the fryers to show up for the concession stands; at the field house- tile the floors, paint it. install the glass, finish hanging the lights; and pull some more wire in for the security stuff, the computer stuff, the electric.

Crans reported that once painting is complete, the electricians will start hanging their devices. Once the HVAC ductwork is done, the HVAC rooftop units will be started on Aug. 24; water will be turned on Aug. 20. The scoreboard needs to be put up and the equipment in the concession stand needs to be finished-they are still waiting on fryers there also; put the scoreboard up, the display board up; finish installing the lockers; the elevators need to be installed; finish the ticket booth down at the lower level; install fencing; install both sets of bleachers up top on the sides; finish the pole barn; and finish the trim on the roof of the field house.

"This is not a complete list of everything that's got to be done, but we'll be in good shape for the first football game," Crans said. "Everybody's working hard."

At some point this fall after the work is finished, Bowers indicated that there would be a full launch so that the public could see the completed projects.

Under personnel, the board approved the following resignations: Michael J. Schaeffer, full-time assistant supervisor of maintenance/facility operations; Kristen A. Fortin, full-time 6th grade teacher at Curtin; Kerry A. Hall, full-time 4th grade teacher at Lycoming Valley; Kyle S. Schneider, full-time science teacher at the high school; Natalie A. Seltzer, full-time sign language interpreter at Hepburn-Lycoming; and Erin E. Fischer, part-time aide at Lycoming Valley.

The approved filling the following positions pending receipt of all approved and eligible clearances, mandated reporter training, as well as all required personnel paperwork and applicable PDE certifications: Kelsey L. Swift, full-time science teacher at the high school, $70,177; Madison Kantz, full-time 7th grade math teacher at the Middle School, $60,742; Shannon M. Knight, full-time 4th grade teacher at Lycoming Valley, $60,742; Marina C. Schappell, full-time 1st grade teacher at Cochran, $60,742.

The following support staff were approved at the pay rates under the 2025-26 WAESPA contract until a new contract is reached: Jack F. Beattie, full-time water safety aide at the high school; Leonila C. Sands, full-time custodian floater at the warehouse complex; and Sara E. Bender, part-time aide at Lycoming Valley.

Sarah Travelpiece was hired as a full-time sign language interpreter at Hepburn-Lycoming at $57,589 per the 2025-26 WAESPA contract.

Long-term substitutes hired for the upcoming school year include at a pay rate of $60,742 each: Matayah L. Deitrick, Hepburn-Lycoming; Stargell D. Fuhr, Middle School; Julia A. Martin, High School; and Braydon M. Miller, High School.

The following non-certified substitutes were approved at $125 per day: Kathleen M. Carey, Garrett G. Carr, Amanda M. Chapple, Mary K. Hillman, Jenny G. Kerns, Chyanne N. Mattern, Cameron C. Pardoe, Scott R. Piepenburg, Diane T. Walker and Kathryn A. Weaver.

Mark S. Crossley and Alexis B. Griner were hired as substitute aides at $15.25 per hour; and Nikki L. Kirkendall and Inna V. Ramirez were hired as substitute health room techs (RN) at $32 per hour.

Several advisors, coaches, and volunteers and their stipends, when applicable, were also approved by the board including Jaquille E. Drummond as the 9th grade assistant football coach at the High School at a $3,420 stipend.

Agreements approved by the board included: inter-district agreement with the Jersey Shore Area School District to provide Title I services for on educationally disadvantaged student who resides in the Jersey Shore Area School District but attends St. John Neumann Regional Academy; a letter of agreement with the Lycoming-Clinton Joinder Board for school based outreach services for students and families in the district, with the district reimbursing the Joinder $51,975 to help offset the salaries of the three Joinder employees providing the services; a letter of agreement with the Joinder to provide a student assistance program liaison for the school year at no cost to the district; two courses with Liberty University, girls health II and girls PE I were approved with the cost of the course the responsibility of the student's family; the purchase of a Kurzweil 3000 web license and associated virtual professional development for $1,375; a renewal agreement with Spring Math for online software licenses for grades K-4 at $23,247.

Bids and contracts okayed by the board were: a proposal from BSC Mechanical Inc. Mill Hall for an upgrade to the HVAC equipment at the Warehouse offices at a cost of $19,900; a contract for the Sciens Building solutions security system for $595; and an ambulance service agreement with Old Lycoming Township Volunteer Fire Company to provide ambulance services for all home football games at $60 per hour.

The next meeting of the school board will be at 6 p.m., Sept. 8 at the District Service Center Board Room, 2780 W. Fourth St.